Just another WordPress.com weblog

"Eat" Local

January 19, 2009

This is not! a resolution. I’ve been having an awesome time at Willow Creek Orchards and the Phoenixville Farmer’s Market for the last few years (Saturday morning shopping AND crepes?! Don’t mind if I do (Jeff, Vanessa, you know what I’m talking about)). I now even have my whole stash of reusable bags so that the peoples at the market don’t give me nasty looks (o, and so that my stash of trash is no longer directly contributing to the omniouscontinent of trash)

But with winter dull-drums just gettin’ a girl down and a lovely weekend trip to Reading Terminal Market (alllllllll the way downtown), I’m wistfully searching the web for wintertime CSAs.

I’ll let you know when I find one that’s appropriately awesome.

In the mean time, I’ve been in “defensive” mode with the in-laws and the husband (just a little bit) on why I’m even bothering. So, here’s the reasons why I’m wistfully wasting the last 20 mins of my lunch break and scowling everything we drive pass Acme…

Eating local means more for the local economy. Logically, a dollar spent locally generates income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.

Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer’s market has often been picked much more recently.

Local food just plain tastes better. I can’t actually “grown” food (tried. failed.) So, before my adoration of local foods, I had never had a tomato that was picked within 24 hours? Yum.

Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic.

Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.

Local food translates to more variety. When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high-yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket.

Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space – farms and pastures – an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.